Viceroy

Viceroy is the fifteenth and final rank of the Empire outside of the royalty, and denotes a position of great significance.

History
Viceroy is another rank, much like the lesser Elector, which actually substitutes as a shorter name for a longer title. The true title of a Viceroy is Prince-Regent and Viceroy of the Crown. Specifically, Viceroyalties (or Provinces as they are often called) are massive swaths of territory that cover the entirety of Imperial space. In the end, all Imperial planets fall under a Viceroyalty somewhere along the line.

Viceroys are the highest representatives of the Emperor in their respective jurisdiction, and are rarely superseded by anyone from the royalty. Viceroyalties span twenty thousand worlds or more, and can take weeks or even a month of continuous travel to fully cross from one side to the other.

Viceroys are also personal representatives of the Emperor, and are empowered with a certain degree of executive authority in their demense, including the sanction of Exterminati - the annihilation of an entire star system and all life within it. They act as the voice of both the Crown and Imperial High Command in their region, and are a terrible enemy to have. All Viceroys are appointed from retiring Privy Councilors who have given tremendous service to the Empire as a whole. There is absolutely no higher rank that can be attained without being an active, sitting Councilor.